Time of flight signaling device



Oct. 28, 1941'. w. H. NEWELL 2,260,980

TIME OF FLIGHT SIGNALING DEVICE Filed June 28, 1938 Maw ms ATTORNEYPatented 28, 1941 lJNlTED STATES PATENT- OFFICE zsimr I mm or men:SIGNAHNG DEVICE William 'nynewen, New revisit. Y. mm to trument Ford InsCompany,

mini ums Glty,N.Y.,acorporationofNewYork W 1 Application June 23, ms,Serial No. ziaz'is- 5 Claims. (01. 161-2) The invention herein disclosedrelates to a timing device for indicating the termination:

of the time intervalrequ'ired fora moving object to travel aparticular-distance.

A timing device ofthe type embodying the invention is especiallysuitable for indicating the termination of overlapping times of flightof a series of projectiles 'flred successively from a gun. A timingdevice or this general type and for. this purpose, commonly known as atime of flight clock is illustrated and described in Patent No.1,355,829, issuedQctoberlQ, 1920 to Hannibal C. Ford. The time of flightclock illustrated in that paten'tis settable in accordance with therange or" elevation of the gun and operates to effect the operation ofan audible signal upon the termination, or preferably imflight of theprojectile for the particular gun setting. The purpose of such a clockis to warn an observer whose duty it is to make any necesto initiate oneor moretime periods, and means that is operated thereby to efleot theoperation or the distinctive signals.

Such a timing device, embodying the invention, is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig.1 is a central, sectional elevation ofthe timing device;

. mediately before the termination, of the time of sary corrections inthe setting of the gun, that I the termination of the time of flight ofthe projectile is imminent so that the observer may concentrate hisattention at the appropriate time to determine whether the projectilehits the target, or the amolmt by which it misses the target.

While the time of flight clock of the. aforementioned patent is capableof indicating the imminence of the termination of the time of flight ofsuccessive projectiles from one or more guns when the projectiles follow'each other in close succession such, for example, thatthe times offlight of'the projectiles of the successive shots overlap, theindication of the imminence of the termination of the time'ot flight ofthe projec tiles of the successive shots is not distinctive. Under suchconditions, it is diiilcult for a spotter whose duty it is to make thenecessary spot corrections to distinguish-between successive shots.

accordance with this invention there is provided a timing device of thistype in which the operation of distinctive signals is eflec to indicate'the imminence of the termination of the time of flight of theprojectiles of successive shots fired from the same or a plurality ofms.

. This result is accomplished byproviding distinei' tive signals, .whichterm is used to designate either a signal device having distinctiveindications as separate distinctive signals, and mechanism forselectively eflecting the operation of the distinctive signals toindicate the termination of separate time periods. eludes means that isoperable to eflect a measure- The mechanism in-f" ment of time, meansthat is selectively operable indicative of the time of flight for therange of the target is aligned with index 4.

As the knob I is turned-to angularly adjust dial 3 to index I, a drivingscrew 6, which is threaded radially through the wall of knob I, turns alongitudinally shiftable shaft 6 with the knob. For this purpose thescrew 8 has an unthreaded end I of reduced diameter that flts into agroove 8 extending longitudinally of a portion of the shaft I, wherebynot only is the knob l capable of effecting a concomitant angulardisplacement of the shaft 8, but this shaft is permitted to have axialdisplacement with .respect to the knob I.

By virtue of .the aforementioned driving connectionbetween knob l andshaft 6, the simultaneous rotary movementof both of these elements, whendial 3 is set to indicate the time of flight, corresponding to target'srange, against index 4, causes a similar angular displacement or asetting arm I. The setting arm 9 is for axially positioning one of aplurality of actuating pins II for the ultimate purpose of soundin orgiving a signal which will call attention to the fact that the impact ofa projectile is about to take place, thus warning an observer tovisually note the point of impact in order tofdeter mine whether acorrection in the aiming of the gun from which the projectile was tiredis needed.- I

When the dial 3 is being set to the index ,4], there must be nooperation of any 0119118 pins" by the setting arm This is insured by theconstruction shown in which the arm 8 is nor- 2 mally maintained out ofcontact with-the pins ting arm will I0, as indicated by the broken lineposition. 'This construction includes a central bore in the knob I ofdifferent axial lengths which have different diameters, the shaft 5 alsobeing axially stepped cordance with the time of flight of a projectilefor the particular range set up. Consequently, the v-shaped outer end ofthe setting arm 8 will be in alignment with one of an annularly disposedrow of actuating, pins II that displaces an tie less than the actualtime of flight of the pro-- sliding fit with the portion of" the bore ofknob I that has the greatest diameter. Immediately next to button II isthe portion 5a of shaft 5 which is of considerably less diameter thanbutton II, creating material annular space between shaft portion, 6d ofthe shaft and the interior surface of the wall of knob I throughout theaxial length of shaft portion in. Next adjacent to the shaft portion 5ais another portion 5b of the shaft 5, which is of less diameter than theshaft portion 5a. The shaft portion 511 slid-v ably flts a portion ofthe bore-of knob I which is of less diameter than the portion of thebore which receives the button II. Therefore, the portions 6a and 5b ofshaft 6 forma shoulder I2, and the two referred to portions ofthe boreof knob I form a shoulder I3.

Located between shoulders I2 and I2 is the innor curved arm I 4 of aposition-controlling double-arm lever I5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thecurved arm ll of the lever lies against the internal shoulder I3 of knobI, and is pivoted thereon by a pin IS. The outer arm II of lever I5extends through aslot I 5 in the wall of knob I. to be operable fromtheexterior thereof when necessary. A leaf spring I9 is riveted to theamount representing a'time interval that is a litjectile that is beingflred.

If the button II be now pushed in to its intermediate, or b position, asshown in full lines in Fig. 1, the shoulder I2 at the-inner side of theportion In ofshaft 8 will come to rest against the adjacent side of thecurved arm I l of the lever I5. Under these conditions, the button IImay not'be pushed in any farther because the spring It will be pushingthecurved arm I4 against the portion 6b of the shaft 8 so that thecurved arm is a barrieragainst further inward movements of button I I,and, hence, of shaft 5 and setting arm 9. The setting arm will thereforebe in its full line position shown in Fig. 1.

wherein it will havepushed the pin II) with which- Illt i islalignedinto the position Illa indicated in It will now be explained that thepins I Ii are outer side of the arm I4 of lever I5 comparatively nearthe pivot pin I8, the opposite end of the spring bearing againstthesurface of the bore of knob I so tending to force the inner arm ll oflever I5 toward shaft 6. Reference to the purpose of lever I5 will bemade later herein.

The portion 6?) of the shaft 6 and another portion thereof to of lesserdiameter than shaft portion it, form a shoulder 25 and a furtherreduction in the diameter in the bore of knob -I creates anothershoulder 2I. Surrounding the shaft portion 5c and located between the0111- ders 20 and 2I is acoil spring 22. Another poroutermost position,as is the setting arm 8. This setting arm is, therefore, clear of theadjacent ends of the pins I5 and will not. touch any of them uponrelative rotary movement of the arm 9 and the annular row of actuatingpins I5.

' Since the knob], dial 3 and shaft 5 turn in unison, the setting arm 9that is fast on shaft 5, will also be turned together with dial 3 as thelatter is set in accordance with the time of flight corresponding to therange and therefore the 'setarranged in an annular row and each passesthrough aligned guide holes in opposed spaced circumferential flanges23' and 24 on opposite sides of a wheel 25 shown in Fig. 1. The-flanges21 and 25 form opposite sides 0 a peripheral groove 26 in thewheel 25.Beta ed in the peripheral groove 28 is an annular coil spring 21 betweenthe convolutions of which the pins It pass in frictional contacttherewith so that the' pins III are individually subject todisplacement. The manual pushing in of the button II previouslydescribed is of a duration only sufliclent to push the particular pinIII with which the setting arm has been aligned to its, intended poheldunder restraint but 'sitlon, as toits'position Ilia, so that this pinalone will be longitudinally dislodged. The quick removal of the handpressure from the button II results in the spring 22 rapidly movingbutton II, shaft I and setting arm Q back to their'former positions, ora, and the setting arm 8 is clear of allofthepins II.

Wheel 25 is rotated by a shaft 28, on which it is rigidly mounted, inaccordance with time by a suitable constant-speed motor 25 and inadirection which represents a disintegration of the period of the timeof flight and towards the free end of a lever 20 which is in the path ofthe lower end of the dislodged pin I. that is in its posi-. tion .Ila.when the dislodged pin II has travway, swinging thelever 28 about a pin35, which -ing a number of oonvolutions about fulcrum pin.il.thespringextendsasanarmfltoengage another pin 35, which is carried byanother lever be angularly displaced in 9.0- Q

39, which is made from electrical insulating material and is alsopivotally mounted on the pin 39. Therefore, the spring arms 32 and 34tend to draw the levers 29 and 39 together. The pin 3| on= lever 29normallyengages the adjacent side of lever 39 so that the longitudinalsides of both levers 29 and 39' are in parallelism under theseconditions.

when the dislodged pin it. continues its movement counterclockwiselevers 29 and 39 at first turn together clockwise about the fulcrum pin39. Lever 39 carries an electrical contact screw 31 having an unthreadedterminal 39 of reduced diameter, the screw 31 being adjustably threadedthrough a bushing 39 inset in this end of insulating lever 39, andterminal'39 of contact screw 31 quickly engages a similar terminal 49,of a fixedly positioned contact 4|. The clockwise movement of insulatinglever 39 is thereupon arrested, but the dislodged pin continues to havebeen. spread further apart, storing energyin the convolutions 33. of thespring. Accordingly, as the outer end of lever 29 escapes from thedislodged pin ID, the spring snaps lever 29 back into its formerrelation to lever 39. A

spring 92, mounted as described later, actson levers 29 and 39 as nowrelated toseparate electrical contact terminal 39 from the terminal 49of fixed contact 4|, opening the circuit controlled v thereby.

5 the free end of the lever 29 and in addition a travel with wheel 29that is being rotated in lever 29' of a switch similar to that alreadyfully set forth. It is therefore sufllcient to say that the structureand operation of this second switch are the same as those of the firstswitch, and to identify the .parts by the same reference charactersailected by a prime mark as applied to the second switch. K when theparticular actuating pin I9 is placed in its position. llic, it willengage the free ends of the levers 29 and 29'- of both switches.Consequently, the contact terminals 39, 49 of the first. switch andcontact terminals 39', 49' of the second switch will be engaged at thesame time.

Therefore, the already described circuitthrough buzzer 49 will beestablished, and a second circuit will be established fromline main 42',conductor 43, contact terminals 39', 49', a conductor 9|, 'in whichthere is no resistance device/conductor 41, buzzer 49,v and conductor 49to the other line 5 -maln 53. The current, short-circuiting resistance45, will therefore pass through buzzer 49, which will then emit a soundthat is changed from that given forth when current passes throughcontact terminals 39, 49 alone and resistance 45. This distinctive soundwill be related only to the par- Such a circuit is shown in. Fig. 3,where one 9 other conductors 49 and 41 to a buzzer 48,.'and

therefrom by a'conductor '49 to the other main 99 of the supply line. Asignal is thus given shortly before the end of the time of flight of theprojectile which was fired as the setting arm 9 dislodged the particularpin III that represents the time of flight of the projectile minus theobserving period. Similar signals may be given for other projectilesfired in comparatively quick succession, and a number of the projectilesmay be in the air at the same time. c

If it is desired to observe the impact of a particular one of theplurality of projectiles that are in the' air simultaneously, theestimated range of the target at, which the next succeeding particularprojectile is to be fired. will be set by tumlng the dial 3 so that thecorresponding range graduation is aligned with indeirft "This, in themanner already described, places the setting arm 9 opposite theparticular actuating pin I9 that represents the time pf flight of theprojectile less, an observing period. c

The arm ll of lever i5 is then pushed to turn clockwise, whereby thecurved arm I4 of the lever is withdrawn from overlapping relation withthe shoulder l2 of the adjacent side of the portion 9a ticularprojectile for which the device has been set, and which has beeneilectedby pushing the button Ii to its innermost position, c. Themodifled buzzer signal will be recognized by the ob- 5 server, who willbe instructed by the distinctive sound to watch for the imminent impactof the particular projectile and note where it strikes in relation tothe target to'see whether "spot" corrections are needed. Referring againtoFigs. 1 and 2, the fulcrum pin 39, on which both switches that areoperable by a selected pin ID are mounted, has an enlarged "centralportion 9? mounted at the center of an inverted U-shaped bracket 58..Washers 99 and 3 nuts retain the 'angularly dispiaceable members of thetwo switches on opposite halves of the pin 30. An arm 9| is riveted orotherwise fastened to one leg of the U-shaped bracket and projectsparallel to the levers 29 and 29. Springs 92 at one end are anchored tothe outer end of arm 9|, the .opnosite ends of these springs beingrespectively connected to the levers 29 and .29 so that normallythey aredrawn toward arm 9| to assume the positions they should occupy when notdisplaced by one of the pins in. At such of shaft 9. The-,button II isthen thrust inward y as far .as it will go, 1. e., to its c position..

The lever arm being entirely out of the way of times, the levers 29, 29'and 39-and 39' are brought against a stop on the bracket 58 deflnitelypositioning these switches in their open positions. Y

The signaling apparatus set forth herein is 0 suitable for inclusion infire control calculating instruments wherein one of the quantitiesdetermined is the" time of fiiglit of the projectile. In such aninstrument, a shaft 93, shown in dot and dash lines in Fig.1, isoperable in accordance with the time of flight of the projectile and hasa bevel gear 94 (shown in dot and dash lines) rigidly mounted theromBevel gear 94 meshes knob Hence, knob shaft'9 and'setting arm 9aresettable from the shaft 93 in accordance with the time of flightwithout the necessity of utilizing the dial 3 and its index 4.

5 The same distinctive signals may also be effeeted at some pointdistant from the signal 48. This is accomplished by providing aconductor 66 connected to .conductor 44 and another conductor 61connected" to conductor 45 which are respectively connected to contacts68a and 68b of a double throw, single pole switch 68. The arm 680 ofthis switch is connected to one side ofa buzzer 69 and the other side ofthe buzzer is con-. nected to the conductor 49. Thus when the switch ispositioned as shown the buzzer 68 is connected through the resistance 45when contacts 38 and 40 are engaged and when contacts 38 and 40' areengaged the resistance is shunted and when the arm 680 is on the contact68a the resistance 45 is shunted.

Under some circumstances it is desirable that the distant signal 69 haveonly a single tone for all signals, and under other circumstances it isdesirable that the signal 69 have distinctive tones for differentsignals. ance of the signal 69 is obtained by positioning the switch 68.If the switch is on the terminal 68a the resistance 45 is permanentlyshunted from the circuit of signal 69 with the result that the signal isa single tone signal. When the switch 68 is on the terminal 68b thesignal 69 is connected in parallel with the signal 48 and becomes a twotone signal.

The pins ID are returned to their initial inoperative positions afteractuating the signal switches by a cam block ID that has an inclined camface 10a which as the pins move thereover moves the pins to theinoperative position.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled inthe art in the details members to one of two positions, and two alarmcircuits each including a switch, one switch being disposed in thepathsof the actuating members in one displaced position and the otherswitch being disposed in the paths of the actuating members in theirother displaced position.

2. Arralarm device comprising a time controlled rotary "member,a-circumferential series of slidable pins. frictionally held by saidmember, a rotatable setting member disposed c'oaxially with the rotarymember and slidable to and from the member, a radial arm carried by thesetting member in position to oppose the pins selectively as I thesetting member is turned and to engage an opposed pin' and displace itaxially as the setting member is moved toward the rotary memher, meansfor selectively controlling the extent of axial movement of the settingmember to one of two displaced positions and hence correspondinglyselectively controllingthe displacement of a pin, and twoalarm circuitseachincluding a switch, one switch being disposed in the paths of thepins in one displaced position and the other switch being disposed inthe paths of-the pins in the other displaced position.

trolled rotary member, a circumferential. series of slidable pinsfrictionally held by said member,

This differential perform 20 a rotatable setting member disposedcoaxially with the rotary member and slidable to and from the member, aradial arm carried by the setting axial movement of the setting memberto one of two displaced positions and hence-correspondingly selectivelycontrolling the displacement of a pin, an electric alarm device, asource of electric energy, andmeans'for connecting the alarm device tothe source of energy including two nor-; mally open switches, one switchbeing disposed in the paths of the .pins in both of their displacedpositions and the other being disposed in the paths of the pins in onlyone of their displaced positions, a lead including a resistanceconnectingthe alarm device to the said .one switch, and a leadconnecting -the alarm device to the said other switch.

4, An alarm device comprising a time controlled rotary member, acircumferential series of slidable pins frictionally held by saidmember, a rotatable setting member disposed coaxially with therotarymember and slidable to and from the member, a radial arm carried by thesetting member in position to oppose the pins selectively as the openswitches, one switch being disposed in the paths of the pins in both 01'their displaced positions and the other being disposed in the paths ofthe pins in only one of their displaced positions, a lead including aresistance connecting the alarm device to the said one switch, a leadconnecting the alarm device tothe said other switch, a second electricalarm device, a switching means, leads connecting the second alarmdevice to the source of power and to the switching. means, the saidswitching means being operative in one position to connect the secondalarm device in-parallel with the first alarm device and in the otherposition to connect the second alarm device diev rectly with the saidone switch.

5. An alarm device comprising a time controlled rotary member, aplurality of displaceable actuating members carried by the rotarymember,

ergy including two normally open switches, one

switch being disposed in the paths of the actuating members in onedisplaced position and the other switch being disposed in the paths ofthe,

actuating members in theirnother displacedposition, a leadincluding aresistance connecting the alarm device to the saidone switch, and a leadconnecting the alarm device to the said 3. An alarm device comprising atime conother switch.

WILLIAM H. NEwnIL'.

